Yun Jing 惲敬

Yün Ching 惲敬 (T. 子居 H. 簡堂), Mar. 20, 1757-1817, Oct. 3, scholar and official, was a native of Wu-chin, Kiangsu, but usually referred to himself in his writings as from the neighbouring district of Yang-hu. He was a member of the same family as the great painter, Yün Shou-p'ing [q.v.]. For his early education he was indebted to his uncle, Chêng Huan 鄭環 (T. 清如, 1730-1806). He received his chü-jên degree in 1783, and four years later was appointed tutor in the School for Bannermen in the Hsien-an-kung 咸安宮 (Palace of Universal Peace). During this period of teaching he made the acquaintance of many prominent men in the capital, among them his life-long friend, Chang Hui-yen [q.v.]. In 1794 he was made magistrate of Fuyang, Chekiang. There he planned to revise the local history (gazetteer) of the district. But his plan was frustrated by a jealous superior who sent him to Kweichow in charge of the transport of supplies to the army which was then fighting the Miao tribesmen (see under Fu-k'ang-an). Despite this affront he took the post with delight. Upon his return from Kweichow in 1796 he was appointed magistrate of Chiang-shan, Chekiang. At the close of that year his father died. After spending some four years at his home he proceeded to the capital to resume his political career. In 1800 he served as magistrate of Hsin-yü, Kiangsi, where he rebuilt the city wall, and removed the granary to a more suitable site. In 1805 he was transferred to Jui-chin, Kiangsi, where his administration was efficient and well-received. In 1812 he was promoted to the post of first-class sub-prefect of Nanchang, Kiangsi. Notwithstanding his recognized reputation as an honest official, he was accused by his enemies, in 1814, of overlooking the fact that his servants had accepted bribes. He was impeached and dismissed from office. Without protest, he calmly retired to devote the remainder of his life to literature.

Yün Ching married twice and had seven daughters and one son, Yün Ku 惲穀. His brother, Yün Fu 惲敷 (T. 子寬 H. 遜堂 1769-1829), was also a well-known official of his time. In the field of literature, Yün Ching and Chang Hui-yen were regarded as the founders of the school of ku-wên 古文 prose writers known as the Yang-hu School 陽湖派 after the district from which they came (compare sketch of Yao Nai, founder of the T'ung-ch'êng School). Yün's broad knowledge and acquaintance with many subjects gave him the advantage over Yao Nai as well as the reputation of writing more substantially. He admired the writings of the historian, Ssu-ma Ch'ien (born 145 B.C.), and imitated his style. His literary works which include his essays, journals, biographies, epitaphs, short articles, and some letters of importance, were collected in 8 chüan under the title 大雲山房文稿 Ta-yün shan fang wên-kao. The first 4 chüan were published in 1811, and the other 4, with a supplement of letters, in 1815. The complete collection was reprinted in 1863.

His other works were: 子居決事 Tzu-chü chüeh shih, in 4 chüan, which comprised the records of his decisions in various criminal cases; a collection of miscellaneous notes called Ta-yün shan-fang tsa-chi (雜記), in 2 chüan; and Ta-yün shan fang shih-er chang t'u-shuo (十二章圖說), in 2 chüan, in which he studied and interpreted the twelve decorative designs on official costumes, and traced their development, with comments. These last two works are now found in the Chih-chin chai ts'ung-shu (see under Yao Wên-t'ien).

[1/490/16b; 3/243/38a passim; 23/48/la; Wu-chin Yang-hu hsien-chih (1879) 19/35b, 2S/41a; Fu-yang hsien-chih 富陽縣志(1906) 17/21b; see bibl. under Yao Nai.]

MAN-KUEI LI

《清史稿》卷485

惲敬，字子居，陽湖人。幼從舅氏鄭環學，持論能獨出己見。乾隆四十八年舉人，以教習官京師。時同縣莊述祖、有可、張惠言，海鹽陳石麟，桐城王灼集輦下，敬與為友，商榷經義，以古文鳴於時。既而選令富陽，銳欲圖治，不隨群輩俯仰。大吏怒其強項，務裁抑之，令督解黔餉。敬曰：「王事也。」怡然就道。後遭父喪，服闋，選新喻。吏民素橫暴，繩以法，人疑其過猛。已乃進秀異士與論文藝，俗習大變。調知瑞金，有富民進千金求脫罪，峻拒之。關說者以萬金相啗，敬曰：「節士苞苴不逮門，吾豈有遺行耶！」卒論如法。由是廉聲大著。卓異，擢南昌同知。敬為人負氣，所至輒忤上官，以其才高優容之，然忌者遂銜之次骨。最後署吳城同知，坐姦民誣訴隸詐財失察被劾。忌者聞而喜曰：「惲子居大賢，乃以贓敗耶！」敬既罷官，益肆其力於文。深求前史興壞治亂之故，旁及縱橫、名法、兵農、陰陽家言。會其友惠言歿，於是敬慨然曰：「古文自元、明以來漸失其傳，吾向所以不多為者，有惠言在也。今惠言死，吾安敢不併力治之？」其文蓋出於韓非、李斯，與蘇洵為近。卒，年六十一。著大雲山房稿。其治獄曰子居決事，附集後。